The posting
About Shepherd Electric Supply
Since 1892, Shepherd Electric Supply has been the first call when complex, time-critical electrical challenges need to be solved, and reliability truly matters. We move materials accurately and on time, so contractors stay on schedule, projects stay on track, and customers never have to wonder if we will come through.
Our success comes from people who take pride in doing things the right way — safely, accurately, and with care for teammates and customers alike. If you want to do work that matters at a company that notices, this is the place.
Why This Role Matters
The Fleet Manager is the connective layer of the Laurel Distribution Center. Shipping, receiving, inventory, and fleet do not operate in isolation — they depend on each other, and when coordination breaks down between them, the customer is the one who pays for it.
This role exists to make sure that never happens. Working alongside the Operations Manager, the Fleet Manager keeps all four functional areas aligned, accountable, and moving — monitoring performance, surfacing inefficiencies, developing department leads, and driving the process improvements that keep a high-volume DC running at the standard Shepherd’s customers expect. This is not a behind-the-desk coordination role. It is a floor-present, outcome-owning leadership position at the center of DC operations
How This Role Connects to Our Compass
Compass Value | What It Looks Like in This Role
We Keep Our Promises: You are the connective layer between shipping, receiving, inventory, and drivers. When any one of those functions falls short, the customer feels it. You own making sure they don’t — not by managing from a distance, but by staying close enough to catch problems before they become missed commitments.
We Stay Hungry: You are always asking what could run tighter, faster, or more reliably across all four functional areas. You analyze KPIs, surface patterns, and drive corrective action — not because the Operations Manager asked, but because you see the gap and own closing it.
We Grow Together: You develop the managers and leads under you so each function has the depth to run without heroics. Cross-functional coordination — between departments, with branches, with purchasing and sales — is part of how you show up every day. The DC gets better because you connect the parts.
We Own It: You hold yourself accountable first across every function you touch. When a process fails — in shipping, receiving, inventory, or fleet — you find the root cause and redesign it. You do not manage through excuses or blame the teams running the process.
We Go Above & Beyond: You anticipate before the ask. The Operations Manager trusts that every function under your coordination is running correctly without being checked. Drivers leave on time. Inventory is accurate. Orders leave clean. You close gaps before they become complaints — across all four areas, every day.
Key Outcomes
Organized by what matters, not just what you do.
Outbound Fulfillment & Shipping Accuracy
• Ensure every outbound order leaves clean — right product, right quantity, complete and accurate documentation
• Verify shipping documentation is complete on every outbound shipment before departure — no exceptions
• Prioritize time-critical and priority-flagged orders with urgency and direct communication to affected teams
• Coordinate staging so drivers load efficiently and depart on time, every route, every day
• Ensure will-call orders are staged and ready before customers arrive
Team Leadership & Development
• Select, onboard, and develop a 20-person shipping team — including leads — so the function executes without depending on heroics
• Coach and hold team members accountable through direct, consistent feedback — not just documentation
• Manage timecards, performance evaluations, and day-to-day accountability with consistency and fairness
• Delegate clearly, follow up on completion, and build a crew that holds itself to a standard
• Escalate performance or conduct concerns to the Operations Manager promptly and without delay
• Develop leads so the shipping function has depth and continuity across all shifts
Inventory Integrity & Receiving Support
• Oversee inbound receiving processes as needed — ensuring freight is received accurately and exceptions are documented before product enters inventory
• Manage fulfillment, inventory, and receiving staff coordination to keep inbound and outbound flow moving without bottlenecks
• Treat inventory discrepancies as signals requiring root cause investigation, not isolated incidents to close out
• Flag recurring discrepancy patterns to the Operations Manager for systemic review
Fleet & Delivery Coordination
• Coordinate with dispatch and drivers to ensure on-time, accurate outbound delivery across Southern and Western Maryland, Washington DC suburbs, and Northern Virginia
• Assist with truck maintenance coordination — report needs proactively so vehicles are never a reason for a missed route
• Partner with dispatch and branch operations to resolve delivery exceptions in real time, not after the fact
Equipment, Facility & Safety
• Maintain safe, organized shipping operations — staging areas clear, equipment functional, hazards addressed before they become incidents
• Oversee pre-shift equipment inspections and ensure maintenance needs are reported and resolved proactively
• Operate and ensure team compliance with forklift, pallet jack, and reach truck certification requirements
• Model and enforce safety compliance on every shift — never treat it as a formality
Process Improvement & Cross-Functional Coordination
• Surface inefficiencies, recurring errors, and workflow friction in the shipping function — and act on them, not just report them
• Recommend and test process changes that improve outbound accuracy, speed, or team capacity
• Communicate proactively with sales, counter, purchasing, and branch teams on outbound status and exception resolution
• Be willing to cover other shifts when operational needs require it — the Laurel DC runs 24 hours, Monday through Friday
What Success Looks Like
After 90 days, you and your Manager should both be able to point to these markers:
- All four departments — shipping, receiving, inventory, and fleet — are coordinated, accountable, and performing to standard
- Inbound freight is received accurately and exceptions are resolved before end of day
- Outbound orders leave clean — right product, right quantity, right documentation — on every shift
- Inventory is accurate, current, and trusted by purchasing, fulfillment, and branch teams
- Fleet runs on time and delivery exceptions are resolved in real time, not after the fact
- The Operations Manager trusts that DC coordination runs correctly without needing to be checked
- KPIs are monitored, gaps are identified, and corrective actions are underway within your first 60 days
- At least one meaningful process improvement has been identified, tested, and implemented in your first 90 days
- Department leads are developing and taking on more ownership over time
Who Thrives Here
This role is a strong fit if:
• You own outcomes across multiple functions — you do not manage from a distance, and you do not let problems sit between departments
• You develop the leaders around you by raising their capability, not by covering their gaps
• You communicate directly — with department leads, with the Operations Manager, with sales, and with branch teams
• You stay organized and analytical under pressure, especially when volume spikes or multiple departments need attention simultaneously
• You hold people accountable without making it adversarial — you set the standard and enforce it fairly
• You treat KPI gaps as problems to solve, inventory discrepancies as signals, and safety shortcuts as non-negotiable
• You want to build an operation where every function works without you in the room — because you built the systems and the people to run it
Qualifications & Requirements
• Bachelor’s degree in logistics, supply chain management, business administration, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience considered
• 5+ years of experience in warehouse or distribution operations, with Manager or management responsibility across multiple functional areas
• Demonstrated experience coordinating shipping, receiving, inventory, and transportation functions in a high-volume environment
• Strong knowledge of inventory control processes, order fulfillment, carrier coordination, and fleet management
• Proficiency with warehouse management systems (WMS), inventory control software, Microsoft Excel, and Outlook
• Forklift, pallet jack, and reach truck certification required or ability to obtain through onsite training
• Analytical and problem-solving skills with a demonstrated focus on process improvement and KPI-driven performance
• Strong verbal and written communication skills — comfortable collaborating across departments, branches, suppliers, and customers
• Familiarity with transportation regulations, safety standards, and warehousing best practices
• Ability to lift up to 60 lbs. regularly and perform the physical requirements of the role
• Valid driver’s license required
• Electrical product knowledge is a plus
• Ability to successfully complete pre-employment screening requirements
Why Join Shepherd Electric Supply
• Competitive salary with opportunity for growth
• Medical, dental, and life insurance
• Prescription drug coverage
• Paid vacation and personal time
• 401(k) with employer match
• Stable organization with over 130 years of industry leadership
• A culture where reliability is noticed, ownership is rewarded, and people come first
• A company scaling into new markets — with real paths to grow with it
Work Shift and Hours: Monday - Friday, 6:00am - 3:00pm or depending on business needs.
Compensation Details: The expected base salary for this position is $70,000 annually.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Shepherd Electric Supply is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.
Why should you join Shepherd Electrical Supply?
At Shepherd Electric Supply, excellence in service, pricing, and products has been our mission since 1892. As the oldest wholesale electrical distributor in the Baltimore/Washington area, we take pride in our exceptional customer service and extensive inventory.
We have a rich history of partnering with industry leaders like Siemens and Eaton, and our commitment to quality and innovation has made us a trusted name in the industry. Join our team and be a part of our legacy!
Apply now and find out what’s next for you.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Vet/Disabled
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